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W. CORLISS.

SAFE OR VAULT. N0. 447,488. Patented Mar. 3, 18 91;

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UNTTEED STATES \VILLIAM OORLISS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

- I SAFE OR VAULT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,488, dated March 3, 1891.

Application filed June 6, 1890.

' State of Rhode Island, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Safes or Vaults, of which the following is a specification.

The improvement relates to the means for securing the door, and for making a practically impermeable joint between the door and the door-casing.

I hzwe in Letters Patent to me, dated June 26, 1883, No. 280,294, set fort-ha mode of making a joint and of securing the door, which consists in providing stout plates, one for each of the four sides of the door, and moving these plates outward and inward, causing them to lap across the space between the door and the door-frame at a proper depth in the material and tightly close the joint when the door is to be secured, and to be withdrawn when required and leave the door free to be opened and closed. In that patent the plates were withdrawn outward into the door-frame; and when the door was to be secured the plates were moved inward across the joint and engaged in a groove in the door. Such arrangement necessitated the mounting of the machinery for operating the plates in the stationary parts of the safe or vault.

I have now devised an arrangement whereby the plates may be mounted in the door and withdrawn inward toward the center of the door. When the door is closed and it is desired to lock it and to secure the joint, the plates are moved outward. The movement of the plates outward does not open any spaces at the corners, because I provide at each corner an obliquely movable wedgeformed piece, which is arranged to move inward and outward. When the door is to be locked, the plates which secure the main portion vof the joint along each side and the top and bottom are thrown outward to the required small extent, and the obliquely-movin g pieces are thrown outward in the corners to the required larger extent and close the apertures which would otherwise there exist. In unlocking the reverse takes place. The cornerpieces move inward to the required large extent and the several edge plates are moved inward to their proper small extent. I pro- Serial No, 354,464. (No inodel.)

vide connections so that these motions are in duced by a single movement, the partial turning of a shaft which may be secured by a lock. 5 5

I have devised an improved construction of the eye or connection of the toggles to the plates, which gives a bearing over the whole thickness of the plate, and is eminently adapted to the applicationof great force if such shall be necessary in urging the plates fully out.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and represent what I consider the'best means of carrying out the in vention.

Figure l is a horizontal section through the door and the adjacent parts, omitting the operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is on a larger scale. It is a front view of the mechanism in the left-hand upper corner of the door. This shows the mechanism with the locking-plates and the corner-piece forced outward into the recess in the fixed jamb or casing. Fig. 3 is a corresponding view of the same parts, showing the condition when the plates and corner-piece are withdrawn. Fig. 4 is a perspective view aiding to show the construction at the corner. Fig. 5 is a modification. It is a front view of the mechanism of the upper portion of the door.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A A are walls of brick or other suitable fireproof material, having an air-space a, which contributes to prevent the conduction of heat from the exterior inward in case of fire.

B is a door-casing of cast metal, having a groove 1) extending quite around.

D is a door of steel or other suitable material. It may be of any suitable construction which will give room for the plates and cornor-pieces, and also room for the several levers and links required to give the proper motions of theseimportant parts. 95

E E are four movable plates of steel mounted in the door and extending along its four edges. They are adapted to move to a lll11 ited extent outward and inward. Each is provided with a transverse slot 6, which receives a pin fixed in the door, which keeps the plate in the correct position as it moves outward and inward. t

Referring to the upper left-hand corner of the door, G and II are links, hinged together at F, the link G turning on a fixed pivot I) set in the door and the link II turning on a circular head II, fitted in acorrespon-ding re- 5 ccss in the plate E. By changing the angular locks the door very effectual] y, but also draws it tightly to its bearing on the proper face of the casing and makes a tight joint. Furthermore, the plates E and the corner-pieces I, by their tight matching together at the corners position of these toggle-links G II the plates E are forced outward or drawn inward, as required. The pivot D is set in such position in the door that it serves as a center for 10 two levers G, one serving with its properlink II to move the horizontal plate E at the upper edge of the door and the other serving with the proper link for operating the vertical plate which serves on a vertical edge or I 5 side of the door. These two links G are in fact formed in one stiiiiy-connected part, and in addition to their functions as members of I their respective toggles to force outward and time mechanism, or both, and a proper force 8 draw inward their respective plates E serve being applied through a shaft from the extezo also as a lever to communicate motion from rior or other means not shown the wheel P is the top to the side. partially revolved. Directing attention to the P is a wheel capable of being turned nearly upper part of the safe, this partial revolution a half-revolution bya suitable shaft and 0011- brings the pin P, which is connected with 90 that portion of the mechanism, into the lowest position. This movement draws down the link and draws on the link N, thus throwing the toggle-links G II into the inclined ponection from, the exterior of the door. (Not 2 shown.) A pin P, carried on this wheel, communicates motion through a link 0, which extends upward nearly to the top of the door,

the upper end being guided by a pin or short sition shown in Fig. 3 and drawing inward 95 arm 0, traversing in a vertical groove (Z the plate E, which extends across the upper 0 formed in the door. This pin 0 connects by edge of the door. The same movement by the a link N with the center 1 The turning of rigid connection of the links G G into a bellthe wheel P a little less than a half-revolucrank lever insures a corresponding action tion by'thrustil'ig the link 0 forces the pivot in the toggle G H, which controls the side 100 F to the left, and by its direct effect through plate E, and that is consequently drawn in- 3 5 the first toggle G H raises the plate E at the ward. The motion transmitted from the lower upper edge of the door. The motion being arm G through th'elink L to the lever K rocks communicated through the rigid connection this latter lever on its axis D and through of the two links or levers G together, correthe link J draws the cornenpiece I inward tospondingly st-raightens the second toggle G H ward the center of the door. The proportions 40 and moves outward the plate E at the side of of the parts are such that this movement of the door. the corner-piece I is much greater than that I I are corner-pieces adapted to fill the of the plates E. I have in my experiments wedge-formed spaces which exist between the made the corner-pieces I move outward and 1 1o beveled and grooved ends of the plates E at each corner of the door. These pieces I are tongued and move outward and inward between the adjacent plates E, respectively, in

inward about three inches, while the plates E move outward and inward only about half an inch. This, through the wedge form of the corner-pieces I, provides a sufficient space at the grooves of which plates the tongues on the the several corners for the plates E to draw 1 I 5 edges of the corner pieces I are engaged. inward properly. When the safe is to be Their outer ends are properly formed to match looked, a half-revolution of the wheel P in the in the groove 1) and to tightly close the joint opposite direction carries the link 0 upward, between the door and the casing at the corthereby bringing the links N into the level ner at those points. These pieces I have exposition and acting togglewise through these 120 tensions I, each provided with a slot 1'', which links on the toggles G II and causing the receives the corresponding pivot D and is plates E to be strongly forced out. The same guided thereby. To the extreme end of this movement exerts a thrusting force through extension I is pivoted by a short link J a the links L and J and thrusts the corner-piece bell-crank lever K, turning on a center D I I outward to the large extent required to I2 5 .fixed in the door. A link L connects the take up theincreasedspace oiferedat the corother extremity withthe center pin or knuckle ners by the movement of the plates E E out- F of the toggle G H. ward and makea tight joint at each corner of The several plates E are beveled or reduced the safe. in thickness at their outer edges, and the The mechanisms at the several corners of groove 1), in which they engage, is correspond- 6 5 ingly beveled. W'hen the plates E and the corner-pieces I are forced outward by the action of my mechanism, the movement not only the door are counterparts of each other. All are operated by a single half-revolution of the central wheel P.

The mechanism in the upper right-hand the safe is exposed to fire, or totprevent the corner (not shown) is operated by a connection corresponding to the link N, connectedto the rod 0 at the point 0. In other words, the rod 0 O in being moved upward and downward operates two links N, extending in opposite directions from the pivot 0', one of which operates the mechanism on the lefthand upper corner, as shown, and the other operates mechanism which is the exact reverse thereof on the right-han d upper corner. (Not shown.)

A pin corresponding to P set in the wheel P opposite to the pin shown operates a link (partly shown) corresponding to O 0, extending downward, and this latter guided the same as the rod 0 above operates by two links extending therefrom the mechanisms in the right and left corners respectively at the bottom.

I attach importance to the connection of the links II to the plates E by the circular heads H, applied in corresponding circular recesses in the plates. The heads H are cylindrical, the axis of the cylinder lying at right angles to the direction of the link. The diameter of the head is considerably larger than the breadth of the neck, or of that part of the link adjacent to the head, and which, with the play of the mechanism, swings in a recess connected with the circular cavity. This connection affords a sufficient hold for the pulling action of the toggles in drawing the plates E inward toward the center of the door, and it provides an especially efficient bearing for the strain in the opposite direction, that which thrusts the plates E outward into their respective grooves. The strain in the latter direction is far greater than that required to draw the plates inward. My construction, forming cylindrical recesses in the plates E and providing them with wedge-shaped openings just suflicient to allow the link to swing to the required extent, makes a union which is uniform through the whole thickness of the plate. It is eminently adapted to endure a very great strain, such as results both intheory and in practice when a tolerable force is applied to a toggle to urge it into the straight condition.

I attach importance to the fact that my main locking-plates E extend continuously each nearly the whole length of its respective side, with their ends oblique, as shown, and that the corner-pieces I are made wedgeshape, with the small ends outward, and have a greater motion than the side platesbecause the continuous length of each side plate gives strength and simplicity not otherwise attainable.

Modifications maybe made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. I can vary the arrangement of the connections from the wheel P to the several toggles G II. Fig. 5 shows such modification, there being two rods or links extending upward from the pin P, pivoted, respectively, at their upper ends to arms on a lever, which lever performs the functions of the lever K in giving the required motion to the proper corner-piece, and also connects by links to a duplicate .set of toggles corresponding to G H, which give the less but strong motion to the plates E.

Instead of locking the wheel P, I can secure the safe by engaging any suitable lock or looks with my mechanism at other points.

The invention has in my experiments been intended for large stationary safes, technically vaults, which constitute portions of a building,or of the foundation therefor; but I do not confine the use of the invention to such situation. It may be used in portable safesand wherever it may be required.

lVhen the plates E are long and of only a little breadth and thickness, so as to be liable to spring, I may employ additional toggles corresponding to G H, distributed equidistant along the length of each, connecting them together by links corresponding in position to the links L.

The plates E as operated constitute a rectangular expanding ring.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a vault or safe, a rectangular doorframe having a groove, in combination with a door haviugplates, and mechanism for moving such plates outward to engage in such groove when required, such mechanism having the two sets of toggles N N and G I'Lacting one upon the other so as to applya great force toward the end of the outward movement, substantially as herein specified.

2. In a door for vaults or safes, having a guiding-slot or guide cl extending longitudinally,the'link O and operating-wheel P, with locking means M therefor, said link having a pin 0 for taking hold of said guide, in combination with each other and with the links N N, acting togglewise transverse to the door, and the links G H, acting to force the plates E outward, the force being thereby great at the end of the movement and the motion being equal on the two sides of the door, as herein specified.

3. In a vault or safe, the wedge-shaped corner-pieces I" I, in combination with movable plates E, having correspondingly beveled and grooved ends, and mechanism, substantially as specified, for moving the corner-pieces outward and inward to a large extent and for moving the plates E outward and inward to a smaller extent, all arranged for joint operation, substantially as herein specified.

4:- In a vault or safe, the door D, oscillating wheel P, arranged to be operated from the outside of the safe, links 0 N N, two sets of toggles G G, each rigidly connected to its mate at a right angle, as shown, and togglelinks II, engaged therewith, arranged to urge the movable plates E outward aii'd inward at the top and side of the door at the same time by a single motion, substantially as herein specified. I

5 In a vault or safe, the rectangular door- IIO 'frame B, having a groove 7), the door D, movable plates E, matched in said groove 7), and operating-toggles G II, with connections N O I P for operating the1n,in combination With each other and with corner-pieces I, link J, hell-crank lever K, and means, as the link L, for communicating the large amount of motion required, all arranged for joint operation, substantially as herein specified.

6. In a vault or safe having rectangular doors and rectangular door-frames, the links H, each havinga cylindrical head II with its axis at right angles to the link, in combina- 

